Dune cat: lifestyle, habitat, living in an apartment

History of the species

The Little Desert Cat entered history in a very unusual way. The fact is that this species of cat was discovered twice.

In the middle of the last century, the French general Jean Auguste Marguerite organized an expedition to the Sahara Desert. Scientists discovered representatives of a new species of cat on the border of Libya and Algeria. The unusual cat was named in honor of the general who led the expedition - Felis margarita. The description was made by the French naturalist Victor-Jean-François Loshomme.

At the beginning of the next century, a Russian expedition led by Moscow explorer Sergei Ognev studied the Kara-Kum and Kyzyl-Kum deserts. They also met an unusual small desert cat and recorded the discovery of a new species.

Later, the misunderstanding was resolved - French scientists simply discovered a North African variety, and Russian scientists discovered an Asian one.

How the Arabian Sand Cat Was Discovered

The dune cat or Felis margarita got its name from the name of General Marguerite, who, while on an expedition in Algeria, accidentally discovered an amazing animal. This happened in 1858. Moving through the desert, the general saw among the dunes an animal that resembled a domestic cat. A naturalist on the expedition gave the name to the new animal, which was similar to the general’s name.

As it turned out, dune cats also lived in other countries. Almost 70 years later, the animals were discovered in the Kara-Kum desert.

Here they found small cats, practically the smallest representatives of the species, who still live in the wild. But the number of the species is declining, as poachers hunt the animals, trying to profit from their sale.

Mr. Cat Explains: Description and Natural Range

Felis margarita is perhaps one of the smallest wild cats. The only smaller ones are black-footed African cats, which barely reach a length of 50 cm and weigh no more than one and a half kilograms.

The body of the largest representatives of the Dune cat reaches a length of only 90 cm, of which about half is occupied by the tail. The average individual is only 65 cm.

The height of the animal at the withers is from 20 to 30 cm, the weight of an adult male individual is 2-3 kg. Females are much smaller.

The animal has a massive head; it looks especially wide and flat due to its voluminous cheeks and low-set small pointed ears, which are located almost on the sides of the head.

At the base, the ears are very wide, which helps to better capture sounds and hunt; they are densely covered with long fluff inside and do not have brushes.

Large golden eyes with a vertical pupil, a narrow neat nose on a pointed muzzle, lush earpieces and vibrissae hiding a small mouth complete the appearance of a cute mysterious creature.

Thick and soft sandy-colored fur is long enough to protect against temperature changes in the desert; hard fur grows on the paw pads between the toes, which helps to avoid burns from the hot sand.

The animal’s huge eyes shine unusually brightly in the sun and can reveal the presence of the animal. The sand cat is aware of this feature and always lowers its eyelids when hiding or sitting in ambush and waiting for prey.

Coarse hairs growing between the toes not only protect the paws from the hot soil, but also help to hide, since due to them the cat does not leave marks. In addition, they increase the support area and prevent you from falling into quicksand.

The detailed exterior of the Dune Cat can be described as follows:

The eyes are large, round, with a yellow iris. In the rays of the sun they become like a crack. The dark pupil is vertical.
The nose is narrow, elegant with a small flat lobe from soft pink to deep sandy color.
The ears are wide at the base, of medium height, with pointed tips, set wide and low.
The head is large and wide with a low, flat forehead and high fluffy “sideburns” on the cheekbones.
The body is small and strong, from 40 to 52 cm.
The limbs are short and strong, with a powerful fur trim.
The claws are short and sharp, but often worn down due to climbing rocks.
The tail is long and fluffy, making up at least 40% of the body size, 23-29 cm.
Wool of medium length, printed.
Color depends on the habitat. The color of the coat varies from golden, light sandy to grayish. This variability in color is explained by the color of the soil, because the animal should not stand out against its background, but simply blend in with it. The tip of the tail is usually dark, the chest, abdominal area and the inside of the legs are lighter. In winter, the hair becomes darker and loses its brightness.

Description of the animal

Unlike other wild representatives of the cat family, sand cats are characterized by their smallest size and rather original appearance.

Appearance

The average body length of an adult varies between 65–90 cm, of which about 40% is the tail. The maximum height of the sand dune cat at the withers is no more than 24–30 cm. Males are slightly larger than females, but their body weight does not exceed 2.1–3.4 kg.

The sand cat is the smallest predator cat living in natural conditions.

The predatory mammal has a large and wide, noticeably flattened head with sideburns. Large and wide ears are completely devoid of tufts. The eyes are characterized by a yellow iris and slit-like pupils.

The dune cat has short and fairly strong, well-developed paws, and the feet are covered with coarse hair that protects the pads on the paws from burns when moving along the hot sand in the sun. The fur of the sand cat is thick and soft, so it can perfectly protect the body of a predatory mammal from low temperature exposure at night and overheating on hot days.

Color

The color of a cat's coat can range from sandy to light gray. On the back and tail you can see gray-brown stripes, which often blend in with the overall fur shade or look darker than it. There is a darker, more pronounced pattern on the head and paws. The tip of the animal's tail is dark, and on the chest and chin the fur is lighter than in other places. In the cold season, seals living in Central Asia grow a thicker coat, which has a dull sandy tint with a grayish coating.

The color of the animal helps it remain invisible among the sands and stones

Character

This pussy is characterized by modesty and secrecy. When moving to a new territory, it hides even during the day. In this regard, naturalist photographers look for the cat at night. The migration of an animal is a quiet process. If, nevertheless, a person manages to see a dune cat, then the latter freezes in place with his eyes closed so that their shine does not give away the animal. But during the hunt, the cat acts quickly and leaves no marks on the sandy surface. The speed of the animal can reach 40 km/h.

The dune cat is a real strategist: he will not leave his prey, but he will not drag it into a hole, but will bury it and eat it when he gets hungry.

During the hunt, the sand cat moves quickly, leaving no traces on the sand.

Nutrition

It is common for this breed of cat to pull porcupines and lizards right out of the sand. Seals have an interesting ear structure and good hearing, so they pick up every rustle underground. Thanks to its whiskers, the animal senses slight vibrations in the air and follows the trail of a nest with chicks. In general, he tends to eat almost any prey that he manages to catch:

gophers and gerbils;
jerboas;
monitor lizards and geckos;
small birds with chicks;
small hares;
insects

Traditional dry or wet food intended for feeding domestic cats is strictly not recommended. In captivity, the sand seal can be fed the following fresh foods:

poultry meat;
beef;
fish;
a house mouse, if it is possible for the cat to catch it.

Photo gallery: foods that can be fed to a sand cat in captivity

At home, the sand cat can be fed beef

Fish is good food for the sand cat in captivity

You can offer your sand cat raw poultry

Reproduction

At 9–14 months the animal matures for mating, which occurs once a year. Cats become pregnant in mid-winter, and give birth in early spring. Animals living in zoos have the opportunity to give birth more often, since it is easier for them to survive in captivity and all the animals’ energy is spent on procreation. During mating season, males and females make barking sounds.

A month after birth, kittens begin to hunt on their own.

A pregnant cat is looking for a den for her offspring. If she doesn’t find anything suitable, she digs a hole on her own. A cat can give birth to 4–8 kittens at the same time. 2 weeks after birth, the cubs’ eyes open, and a month later the babies go hunting for the first time. In captivity, seals live 10–11 years, but there is no exact figure due to the secretive lifestyle of these animals.

Video: Dune cat offspring in the wild

Habitat and lifestyle

The range of the Dune cat is the deserts of North Africa, they are found in Algeria, Southern Morocco, Chad, Nigeria, in all regions of the Arabian Peninsula, as well as in Central Asia - Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan, partly Kazakhstan and Pakistan. Previously, Sand cats were also found in the arid zones of Israel and Jordan, but at the moment these populations are almost exterminated.

The uniqueness of this representative of the cat family is that it chooses habitat areas that would seem impossible for this predator. They have the hottest and driest climate and are practically devoid of water sources.

Sometimes Dune cats can be found in scattered rocks adjacent to deserts, as well as in rocky valleys overgrown with dry bushes. Here they set up their burrows. Some populations also have access to bodies of water.

Thanks to their thick undercoat, cats tolerate both heat and cold well.

They hunt at night, and during the day they sleep in abandoned burrows, or independently dig small compact holes for themselves.

What does a sand cat look like?

This is a fairly small representative of the cat family. You can even call it small. A distinctive feature is the “shod” soles of the paws. The sand cat lives among hot sand, and a thick layer of thick and hard fur protects its sensitive pads from burns. In addition, such soles create a high supporting surface, which is necessary for animals to move deftly among quicksand and sandy surfaces. The fur of these cats is quite short, but very thick. This coat provides excellent protection from temperature changes: from cold at night, and from intense heat during the day.

Varieties of the Dune cat

Scientists today distinguish four subspecies of the Dune cat:

Dune cat Felis margarita margarita

The first group belongs to North Africa and is found mainly in the Sahara.

In 1938, scientist Reginald Innes Pocock also described two more Algerian varieties of Sand cats:

Felis margarita meinertzhageni;
Felis margarita aïrensis.

The first subspecies is found in the Algerian Sahara, the second in French Sudan. But today these taxa are considered invalid, and all animals are classified as the main nominee.

Margarita Margarita Dune cats have the brightest fur color, distinct sea markings, two to six black tail rings, and the smallest body size.

Sand cat variety Felis margarita harrisoni

Felis margarita harrisoni is believed to inhabit exclusively desert areas of the Arabian Peninsula. They are usually called Arabian sand cats. Also found in 2001 in the Syrian desert near the ruins of Palmyra. They are medium-sized animals with golden fur and bright markings on the body and tail.

Dune cat of the Scheffeli subspecies

Felis margarita scheffeli is a subspecies of the Sand Cat native to Pakistan. The species is described based on seven specimens of animals captured in the Nushke desert and killed in captivity. More often in scientific literature they are called Pakistani sand cats.

The fur of these animals has a distinct gray tint, but the markings on the face and tail are bright, with up to eight dark rings.

The national Red List of Pakistan Mammals has listed the sand cat as a critically endangered animal since 2003.

Asian sand cat

Felis margarita thinobia - inhabitants of the Caspian coast and Central Asia. It was this subspecies that was discovered by Sergei Ognev in the Kara-Kum and later described by Reginald Innes Pocock. These animals have a darker grayish fur color, faint markings on the face and tail, and are larger than their Saharan counterparts.

Features of life in the wild

Males and females of this species live separately, but their home territories overlap.

Where does he live?

The sand cat, as the name suggests, lives in deserts or places with arid and hot climates. The cat's habitat includes the territory of the Sahara, Central Asian countries such as Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, and Pakistan.

Did you know? In Kazakhstan, this species of the cat family is listed in the Red Book.

Depending on their habitat, there are several subspecies of cats that differ from each other in coat color:

Felis margarita margarita. Lives in Sahara. It differs from other species in its smallest size and brightest color. May have from 2 to 6 rings on the tail;
Felis margarita harrison. Inhabits the Arabian Peninsula. Distinctive features are spots on the outside of the ear and a tail with 5–7 rings;
Felis margarita thinobia. It lives in Iran and Turkmenistan, which is why it is also called the Caspian cat. Individuals of this subspecies are the largest and have the least prominent color;
Felis margarita scheffeli. The subspecies resides in Pakistan. The color of the coat is muted, but the cat’s back is decorated with dark stripes, and the tail is usually marked with several rings.

What does it eat?

The sand cat feeds on small game, which it hunts at night, which calls into question the possibility of keeping it at home. Its diet includes snakes, including horned vipers, sand mice, jerboas and other rodents, hares, birds, and insects. During the hunt, the predator first stuns the victim with a blow to the head, and then strikes with a bite to the neck.

In winter, cats live closer to human settlements, but do not hunt poultry. The predator lives far from bodies of water, so the bulk of the liquid enters its body through the food it eats. An animal can live without water for quite a long period of time.

How does it reproduce

The mating season of these mammals occurs individually, depending on the climate and the characteristics of the subspecies itself. The Central Asian subspecies mates in spring or early summer, and the inhabitants of the Sahara - in winter or early spring. The beginning of the mating season in males is accompanied by sounds reminiscent of a dog barking, which should notify and attract the female.

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There are usually about 3-4 kittens in the litter, which she gives birth to in a spacious burrow. The female lives with her offspring for up to 6–8 months, teaching them to hunt. Then, at the age of 9 months, young cats become sexually mature and begin an independent life. The lifespan of this species is up to 14 years.

Character and behavior of the Dune cat

It is difficult to find food in sufficient quantities in the desert, so Dune cats constantly migrate.

As shelters in conditions of constant movement across desert terrain, Sand cats rarely dig holes on their own; more often they use abandoned dens of other animals, mainly foxes and porcupines.

They dig small holes very quickly thanks to their short and strong legs. Most often, animals sit in them during the day, and at dusk they go out hunting.

When leaving the shelter, the Dune Cat freezes for several minutes and carefully studies the surrounding space in order to notice the enemy in time. With exactly the same precautions, the small predator returns to its lair.

The uniqueness of Sand cats is that these animals can live in the absence of water. Their body is able to accumulate liquid, extracting it from any food.

To ensure that precious moisture is wasted to a minimum, animals do not go out into the scorching rays during the day, but shift their hours of greatest activity to the evening, night and early morning.

The sand cat is very small, but swift. During the night he is able to cover an area of about ten square kilometers. The animal runs, practically lying flat on the sand and lowering its head low, which creates a highly streamlined body. At the same time, the animal is capable of reaching speeds of up to 40 km/h. This method of movement, coupled with a high speed of movement, allows the cat to remain almost invisible and blend in with the sand. Even in sunlight, few predators are able to notice a moving Dune Cat.

In addition, it is an unusually intelligent animal. If a person shines a spotlight on it while hunting, the animal closes its eyes so as not to give itself away by the reflection of the iris.

Having adapted to a hot and dry climate, Sand cats really do not like precipitation, which is extremely rare in the desert, but possible in the adjacent territories. In order to wait out the rains, cats dig deep holes, up to 1.5-2 meters deep.

Despite the fact that Dune cats prefer to lead a solitary lifestyle, they are rather friendly towards their fellow cats, do not enter into confrontation and are even able to shelter them in their burrow. Due to the minimal amount of living life in the desert, Dune cats are excellent hunters.

The predator compensates for its miniscule size with the thoughtfulness of its attack and the swiftness of its throw. The habit of stockpiling and unpretentiousness helps these animals survive in conditions of total food shortage.

The sand cat will not refuse even a snake. The Arab variety is especially famous and interesting for these deadly fights. The predator acts in a unique way and often defeats even a viper - it unexpectedly hits its opponent on the head, stunning the prey, and then finishes it off by biting its neck.

In winter, when the minimum life in the desert that is active in the summer freezes, Dune cats move closer to human settlements. Although it is people who are the main enemies of these animals. Jackals, monitor lizards, bird predators, and caracals are also dangerous for sand cats. Despite the fact that hunting the Sand Cat is very difficult, man does not give up his claims to this prey. Most often, animals are caught for subsequent sale.

The greatest harm to the population is caused by humans ineffective management of pasture resources and eradication of the natural biotope.

Lifestyle, habits of the dune cat

The lifestyle of sand cats is predominantly nocturnal. They spend the hot daytime hours in a shallow hole dug somewhere under a bush.

Sand cats are excellent diggers. They need this talent for building and improving burrows, as well as for digging rodents out of the sand. Their claws are not fully retractable and are not very sharp, as there is little opportunity to sharpen them in the desert.

Burrows, usually with one entrance, are about 1.5 m deep. Sometimes cats use holes dug by foxes, porcupines or rodents.

When crossing open spaces, they stay close to the ground, sneaking on bent legs. Because hot, dry desert air absorbs sound, large ears are needed to detect the faint squeaks of potential prey.

When darkness falls, cats take up an observation position at the entrance to their hole. Before going hunting, they spend some time observing the surroundings for possible danger. They are active all night and can move 5-10 km away from the hole.

Diet

The sand cat's diet is known to include small rodents such as gerbils and jerboas, as well as insects, small birds and reptiles, including venomous desert snakes.

Among Saharan nomads, sand cats are known as hunters of snakes, especially horned and sand vipers, which they stun with quick blows to the head and then kill with a bite to the neck.

If an animal catches more than it can eat, it buries the remains for a “rainy day.”

The sand cat gets its moisture from food, but if the opportunity presents itself, it readily drinks.

The Tubu people of the Tenere desert spoke of sand cats that came to their camps at night and drank fresh milk.

Continuation of the family line

Sand cats are solitary animals, with the only exception being the mating season. At this time they perform a “mating song”, very similar to the barking of a small dog. A loud bark combined with excellent hearing allows these cats to find each other over long distances.

Other sounds that sand cats make include meows, growls, hisses and purrs, similar to those of domestic cats.

After a 60-67 day pregnancy, the female gives birth to 1 to 8 (usually 3-4) kittens annually in a hole or among stones. The weight of newborns is 50-60 grams. After 2 weeks their eyes open, after 3-4 weeks they come out of hiding for the first time, and at the age of 5 weeks they are already trying solid food.

They become independent at 3-4 months, and reach sexual maturity at approximately 9-14 months.

The lifespan of wild sand cats is unknown, but in captivity they can live up to 18 years.

Nutritional Features

Due to the scarcity of protein food in the desert, Sand cats are ready to eat absolutely any food:

rodents (mice, gerbils, gophers, jerboas);
spiders;
lizards;
small birds;
hares;
insects;
snake.

At the same time, the Dune Cat, even if it is full, will never throw away the remains of its prey; it will definitely hide it in a secluded place. It will simply bury it deep in the sand, and its subtle sense of smell will help you find the supply for the next day.

Nutrition

The dune cat's diet is not varied. They are quite unpretentious in food and chase almost everything that moves. Cats' prey includes jerboas, small rodents, sandlings, birds and their eggs. Sometimes they can snack on insects, lizards and even small snakes. If you are lucky, you will come across a hare or other larger prey, which the cat does not eat at once, but buries some of it in case of an unsuccessful hunt in the future.

Due to life in the desert, the body of Arabian cats has adapted to do without water for a long time. Animals obtain all possible liquid from food, and thanks to their nocturnal lifestyle, they do not lose valuable moisture.

Reproduction

These animals have offspring once a year. There is no clearly established mating season. Thus, the North African subspecies usually breeds from January to April, the Pakistani subspecies in September-October, and in the sands of the Kara-Kum, the rut begins in April-May.

At this time, males betray their silent nature. They actively call on females, who are also able to show their voice, signaling their readiness to mate.

The cries of these animals bear little resemblance to meowing, but rather resemble the barking of small breed dogs. That’s why Barkhannikovs are often called barking cats.

Sand cats carry their young for about two months, 60 to 70 days. A litter usually contains two to eight babies, although the average number is three to four. Pairs are formed only during the rutting period; the female bears, gives birth to, and feeds the cubs most often alone.

The female prepares a safe den in advance, in which she gives birth to completely blind babies, weighing no more than 28-33 g. Within two weeks, the kittens open their blue eyes and triple their weight by the first month of life. The iris begins to turn yellow by the third or fourth month of life.

From the second month, the mother begins to gradually accustom the cubs to solid food. The kittens usually stay next to her for up to six months, actively learning methods of hunting and survival in the desert.

Sexual maturity occurs very unevenly and depends on the individual characteristics of the individual, from 9 to 15 months. Cats leave their family at the age of six months, kittens live with their mother longer.

Most recently, they managed to obtain the offspring of the Dune Cat in the Israeli zoo, and scientists were able to observe with their own eyes all the periods of growing up of three kittens.

Population today

Scientists say that it is difficult to even roughly calculate the number of living individuals, this cat leads such a secretive lifestyle. However, after conducting various observations, experts came to the conclusion that in 1996 there were 50,000 sand cat individuals living in the world. This is a very small number. Such studies prompted the inclusion of cats on the list of protected animals. Unauthorized capture of animals for the purpose of domestication or breeding is prohibited; only nature reserves and zoos have such powers. The sand cat, a photo of which you can see in the article, must continue to live in its natural habitat in order to maintain the harmony of the ecosystem.

Captivity

Information on the size of the world population of the Dune Cat varies greatly. The collection of accurate data has only recently begun thanks to the development of video surveillance.

Already in this century, the Dune Cat was taken under the protection of zoological centers. They voice the population figure of 50 thousand individuals, but hardly anyone can vouch for its accuracy due to the high secrecy of the animals.

Now the Sand Cat is listed in the International Red Book as the most vulnerable and close to extinction species.

This animal is kept in some large zoos in the world, which greatly value such rare pets. The number of adults living in captivity is believed to be only nine. Occasionally, animals travel to other zoos to breed and produce offspring.

These rare endangered animals living in zoos are known to the world by name. For example, the Kalahari cat, the marriage partner of the Israeli cat Rotem, came to visit a friend from Sweden. The result of this visit was the birth of three Sand kittens. This is very rare, since in captivity these animals have very poor contact with each other and cases of the birth of cubs are rare. In addition, captivity is stressful for mothers and they often abandon their offspring, which leads to the death of their babies.

Can I keep it at home?

The sand cat is a rather difficult pet to keep at home. It is hardly possible to create suitable natural conditions in an apartment. In apartments, Arabian sand representatives of the breed quickly wither away.

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A private house with a yard may be suitable as a habitat. The sand cat needs a large yard to roam. Natural needs in an open area will be better fulfilled. For example, in the yard, a wild hunter will be able to hunt small rodents, benefiting his owners.

For reference! It is known that desert animals easily get along with people if they grow up in domesticated conditions from a young age. Cats are even more playful.

Character of a wild beast

The Arabian cat is a very closed creature by nature. During the day she hides almost constantly. The beast is characterized by very cautious habits and great distrust of other animals.

The Arabian cat cares about its safety. If you get closer to it, the animal closes its eyes, so that the glare does not let you know about it. When hunting, a wild cat is very swift. Representatives of the breed are capable of reaching speeds of up to 40 km/h, moving by jumping and confusing the trail.

Domestication of the dune cat

Taming a wild animal is possible at a young age. The kitten can be provided with different toys. The pet will be happy to use the offered assortment and will not refuse to play together.

Arabian raptor on a walk in the home garden

Domestic dune cats will feel more comfortable in conditions closer to natural ones. For example, it is better to equip your pets with a cozy hole for sleeping.

Important! Adaptation to the conditions of captivity for an adult cat can be lengthy. Animals may not trust people at all due to natural caution.

Is it possible to keep a Dune cat at home?

The miniature size and external similarity of this desert predator to domestic cats often makes people forget about the wild nature of this animal. All cases of keeping the Dune cat at home are isolated.

There is very little information that can help make cohabitation between humans and desert predators correct. At a minimum it is necessary:

It is imperative to ensure low humidity in the premises, as the Sand Cat is accustomed to the dry and hot desert climate.
It is advisable to strictly regulate the temperature in the room or enclosure and not allow significant changes.
It is necessary to strictly adhere to the terms of deworming and vaccination and monitor the health of the pet.
The animal should be provided with a large area for activity.
Provide a complete diet consisting mainly of protein foods, namely live food and raw meat. For an adult, at least 0.5 kg is required, for example, a bird.
Use vitamin supplements in feeding.

So far, accumulated experience suggests that the Dune cat can live fully in captivity from 10 to 15 years.

Appearance

The main feature of the sand cat is its tiny size: adult individuals grow to only 70-90 cm in length, about half of which is the tail. They weigh 2-3.5 kg - the same weight as four-month-old kittens of domestic cats.

The coloring of the dune cat corresponds to its name. The thick coat is colored in different shades of sand color with individual dark stripes. This coloring helps animals camouflage in the desert. Their characteristic feature is also fluffy sideburns, smoothly turning into large ears. The paw pads are protected by hard fur, which saves them from hot sand, which can cause burns. The claws are rather blunt, but they are convenient for digging holes and hunting prey hidden in the sand. Although the paws of sand cats are short, they are strong and adapted for long journeys.

Purchasing a Dune Kitten

Purchasing a Dune Cat kitten is almost impossible today. Since there are no specialized nurseries and breeders, and zoos are prohibited from selling kittens to private individuals. And the number of these animals in captivity is so small that this is simply impossible.

However, on the smuggling market it is known that the price of an animal starts from six thousand dollars. However, you should not even think about such an acquisition, since retribution for breaking the law is inevitable.

In order to increase the natural population of these rare animals, decades of work by zoological centers, environmental organizations, safari parks, nature reserves and zoos are required.

Today it is too early to think about domesticating and taming the Dune Cat; for now, this animal should live only in its natural habitat to maintain the harmony of the ecological system.

What to feed a sand cat at home

To begin with, the cat needs to adapt to the owner. You can only feed a small dune kitten by hand. The foods that are suitable for your pet are those that he ate in natural conditions, and these are:

poultry meat (possibly with small bones);
beef;
fish;
house mouse.

In addition to regular food, predators need vitamins and other useful elements. It is known that the body of this animal does not adapt well to ready-made food. Ideally, the cat will hunt on its own.

Traditional cat foods are not suitable for the Velvet cat

Important! Traditional cat food is not recommended, as it negatively affects the predator's digestive tract. The cat must periodically hunt live prey on its own.

Hunting and natural enemies

The sand cat is a true extreme animal with an amazing ability to survive. These animals live even in the driest areas, surviving among the dunes, where the landscape is brightened only by dry bushes. Having adapted to such difficult conditions, cats lead a nomadic lifestyle. They constantly move through the desert in search of food.

It is very difficult to detect this cat; it moves so easily that it leaves no traces. The activity of these animals is observed mainly at night, since during the day it is too hot, and the prey hides in holes. Often attempts to find representatives of this species ended in failure. The cat hides very well, moves, clinging to the ground, and when it notices the trace of a flashlight, it presses itself even closer to the sand and closes its eyes so that the light does not reflect in them.

These cats are skilled hunters, otherwise they will not survive in the harsh desert conditions. They hunt from ambush. The cat jumps out at the victim, grabs it by the neck and shakes it vigorously. Then, with the help of teeth and claws, he tears off pieces of meat and satiates himself. If the prey is large, then the cat may not leave the place of daytime shelter for several more days, going out to hunt again only when the supplies come to an end.

Furry beauties also have natural enemies. These are snakes, large birds of prey and jackals. What saves them from destruction is their natural dexterity and caution, the ability to camouflage and hide well.

The sand cat lives in the desert areas of Africa (its northern part) and Asia. This species is found in Pakistan, Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan and Turkmenistan. The cat can only be found in hot, dry areas.

In summer, it is nocturnal, hiding from the sultry sun. Sand cats often sleep in abandoned burrows of other people (foxes, porcupines, gerbils and ground squirrels). From these places they control their territory. In winter, predators love to lie in the sun.

Natural enemies:

foxes;
wolves;
predator birds;
snakes.

Therefore, they have to be very careful. The sand cat has a distinctive ability - excessive vigilance. The animal seems to freeze in place when leaving the hole, not reacting to anything. He can hold in this position for about 15 minutes. Once convinced of complete safety, the animal quickly leaves its home and goes hunting.

The cat also returns extremely carefully: he watches around for a long time so as not to become someone’s prey. Such unique habits help him protect himself from enemies.

Dune cats can easily pretend to be dead in moments of danger. They fall to the ground and, closing their eyes, merge with their natural environment due to their color.

The sand cat lives in the countries of Central Asia - Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan and Turkmenistan and in the Sahara. This animal is well adapted to life in the desert.

It can only be found in arid and hot areas - sandy deserts without vegetation and rocky valleys. Very rarely, the sand cat can be found in deserts with clay soil.

Subspecies

Depending on the habitat, the following subspecies can be distinguished:

Sugar - Felis margarita margarita.
Arabian Peninsula - Felis margarita harrisoni.
Pakistan - Felis margarita scheffeli.
Caspian Sea region - Felis margarita thinobia.

A distinctive feature of each subspecies is the color of the fur.

Like many felines, sand cats are most active at night. During the day they hide in burrows. The only exception is the subspecies Felis margarita scheffeli - mainly in winter and early spring they prefer twilight.

Not everyone can survive in the harsh desert conditions. But the sand cat will not disappear - it is a born hunter who easily copes with the task of finding prey. A cat usually attacks from an ambush - it jumps out of cover, grabs the victim by the neck and shakes it thoroughly. Then teeth and claws are used to slowly feast on the prey, piece by piece.

A meal of eating large prey can last for several days. All this time, the dune cat will remain in the shelter and will come out only when there is nothing else to eat.

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The natural enemies of the sand cat in its natural habitat are jackals, wolves and large birds of prey. Among other things, a direct negative impact on the number of such predatory mammals is exerted by people who often hunt exotic wild animals for the purpose of sale. This species of wild cat is currently protected, and the exact number is unknown, due to the secretive lifestyle of the predator.

Sand cats live in harsh natural conditions in which not everyone can survive. These wild felines are found in the Sahara Desert, the Arabian Peninsula, Central Asia (Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan), and Pakistan.

Subtropical, tropical and dry continental climates in the area where the dune cat lives have left their mark on its appearance and habits

The existence of a sand cat is further complicated by the lack of a water source. Such conditions could not but affect the lifestyle of these animals. They are active only after sunset, when the heat of the day subsides. Until this time, cats sleep in holes dug by their short paws, which are perfectly adapted for this purpose, or in shelters abandoned by their previous owners.

Being a predator, the sand cat eats almost all the game it encounters while hunting. Its diet includes small rodents, lizards, insects, tolai hares, and birds. He can also hunt poisonous snakes. The area where this animal hunts can be more than 15 km2.

Since there is a problem with water in the habitats of the sand cat, this animal over the many centuries of its existence has adapted to obtain the necessary moisture from food.

These tiny predators also have enemies. Large snakes, monitor lizards, large birds of prey, and jackals are ready to feast on this small animal.

Reproduction in natural conditions depends on the habitat of the animal. For example, in the Sahara these wild cats are ready to reproduce from January to April, and in Pakistan from September to October. The sand cat's pregnancy lasts about 2 months (59–63 days). In one litter, the female brings from 2 to 5 babies.

Sometimes their number is even greater. Up to 8 kittens. The weight of the babies is usually up to 30 g. The babies' eyes open 2 weeks after birth, and after 5 weeks the kittens are ready to leave their den to hunt. At about six months of age, kittens become completely independent in order to live independently of their mother. But they reach sexual maturity closer to 1 year (9–14 months).

Lifestyle, character and habits

Under natural conditions, these animals do not gather in packs. An adult sand cat is quite capable of feeding itself alone; in a group only females with growing kittens go out hunting.

From the heat of the day, dune cats hide in holes. They can dig them themselves, or they can use ready-made holes of corsacs (steppe foxes). Sometimes sand cats expand gerbil burrows to live.

They lead a predominantly nocturnal lifestyle. The only exception is Pakistani sand cats; these animals hunt not only in the dark, but also at dusk.

Before the hunt begins, cats sit motionless in their shelter and listen sensitively to their surroundings. Only after 15 minutes the cat will come out of the shelter. At the end of the hunt, dune cats perform the same ritual. This allows them to avoid encounters with predators that could climb into the hole.

Enemies that threaten the life of sand cats are large birds of prey, monitor lizards, jackals and some snakes.